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Adrenal Axis Exhaustion

Meaning

This clinical concept describes a state of chronic functional decline within the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting from prolonged, unremitting stress exposure. It is not an anatomical failure but rather a diminished physiological capacity to mount an appropriate, adaptive cortisol response to new stressors. Patients often present with non-specific symptoms like persistent fatigue, dysregulated sleep patterns, and impaired immune function, reflecting systemic hormonal imbalance. The term encapsulates the functional endpoint where the body’s primary stress-response system operates inefficiently due to sustained demand.